Counseling, Mental Health Counseling - Dual License, MEd
The Mental Health Counseling-Dual License MEd is a 66-credit program is for those seeking dual licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Massachusetts by the Board of Registration and a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor License with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Program requirements have been designed to meet current state licensing requirements (CMR 262) and initial licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a school social worker/school adjustment counselor.
The Mental Health Counseling - Dual License MEd at Bridgewater State University offers:
- Diverse faculty with extensive teaching and administrative experience in the fields of mental health counseling
- Development of critical thinking skills, as well as oral and written communication capabilities
- Small classes facilitating a more personalized learning experience
- Affordable tuition, whether you live in state or out of state
- Provides a comfortable learning environment for older, non-traditional graduate students
Program Director: Dr. Nikki Freeburg
Admissions Requirements
Mental Health Counseling, Dual License:
Invitation to Admissions Interview Day:
- If the undergraduate GPA is a 3.00 or higher, then a combined GRE score of 281-290 is needed.
- If the undergraduate GPA is a 2.80-2.99, then a combined GRE score of 291 or higher is needed.
- If the undergraduate GPA is a 2.50-2.79, then a combined GRE score of 292+ is needed.
Candidates Holding a Master’s Degree:
- If the master’s degree GPA is a 3.5 or higher, then the GRE requirement is waived.
- If the master’s degree GPA is a 3.0-3.49, then a combined GRE score of 297 is needed.
Applicants must also submit:
- Complete Online Application and $50 application fee
- Resume
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Three appropriate letters of recommendation from professionals or educators outside the BSU department of Counselor Education
- Personal Statement - A 500-word personal statement that presents a synthesized, integrated, and self-reflective description of your career goals as they relate to your chosen field of counseling and how they have led you to apply to the specific counseling program at Bridgewater State University.
- Passing score of the Communication and Literacy Test of the Massachusetts Teacher Educator Licensure (MTEL) test.
- On campus interview- Final applicants are required to participate in a one-day Admissions Interview Day held at the end of November for Spring Admissions and the end of March for Fall Admissions.
- Students who live, work, or attend school more than 200 miles from the Bridgewater State University may be granted an alternative online admissions interview.
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester: February 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Curriculum
Required general counseling courses:
CNGC 500 - Research and Evaluation
CNGC 528 - Counseling Theories and Techniques
CNGC 529 - Multicultural Counseling
CNGC 532 - Psychological Assessment
CNGC 538 - Group I: Theory and Process of Group Interaction and CNGC 520 - Group Experience (non-credit; graded on a (P) Pass/(N) No Pass basis)
CNGC 539 - Introduction to Career Counseling
CNGC 563 - Psychopharmacology for Nonmedical Professionals
CNGC 582 - Preventive Counseling
Required Mental Health Courses:
CNMH 534 - The Professional Counselor: Standards, Ethics and Legal Issues
CNMH 535 - Applied Counseling: Adolescent-Adult
CNMH 536 - Applied Counseling: Pre-Adolescent
CNMH 540 - Counseling Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
CNMH 564 - Theories of Psychological Development
CNMH 568 - Psychopathology
CNMH 569 - Crisis/Disaster Counseling
Electives
Complete three (3) credits in counseling at the 500-level or above.
Total minimum credits: 66
Additional Information:
Fieldwork requirements
CNMH 570 - Advanced Applied Counseling: Mental Health Counselor (100 hours, 3 credits)
CNMH 571 - Internship: Mental Health Counselor (total of 450 hours, 9 credits)
CNMH 582 - Internship: Mental Health Counselor - Dual License (total of 450 hours, 9 credits)
Culminating Experience:
The culminating experience focuses on students’ ability to integrate counseling and development theory into direct practice. Through the culminating experience, students will demonstrate the counseling competencies that align with current CACREP standards (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs), as well as standards that align within respective programs of study. Students will have the choice of completing one of the following options:
CNGC 585 - Capstone in Counseling - Portfolio
CNGC 586 - Capstone in Counseling - Project Paper
Achieve a passing score on the CPCE Exam
***For the most up-to-date information regarding course descriptions, please visit our University Catalog
Funding Opportunities
The College of Graduate Studies provides various opportunities for graduate students to receive funding while working towards their degrees. Appointments are competitive and are determined by undergraduate and/or graduate grade point averages, pertinent experience, educational preparation and interviews. For information on assistantships, fellowships and conference funding awards, please visit our Graduate Funding Opportunities page.
The MEd program in Mental Health Counseling is eligible for unsubsidized student loans and applicants are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more specific questions, please visit the Financial Aid Office website or contact them directly at finaid@bridgew.edu.
Mission Statement and Program Objectives:
The principle mission of the Department of Counselor education at Bridgewater State University is to prepare high quality master’s level counselors for various settings in Massachusetts and the nation. More specifically, we prepare; quality School Counselors to serve students, families and communities PreK-12 educational settings; Clinical Mental Health Counselors to serve individuals, families and /or groups in community, non-profit, or private agencies; and Student Affairs Counselors to serve as academic advisors, career advisors, residential hall advisors, or likewise in institutes of higher education. Our objectives are to:
- Aid students in understanding their professional identity, roles, and relationships on both the micro and macro levels.
- Train students to be competent in navigations ethical and legal guidelines, professional obligations, and responsibilities to their future clients and or students;
- Develop expertise in the skills of counseling;
- Instill a commitment to uphold best practices, as informed by critical consumption of/and current research and literature in the professions of counseling and student affairs across the CACREP core curriculum;
- Impart an awareness, appreciation, and affinity to honor diversity and social justice issues in the mental health, school counseling, and student affairs professions.